By Mike Ducker President, FedEx Express International

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In response to Hurricane Sandy, FedEx is making a $1.2 million pledge in support of several organizations working hard to bring relief to the region impacted by the storm. We are extremely concerned about the well-being of our team members, our customers and the communities we serve in the northeast. Supporting disaster response organizations is one way to demonstrate this concern.

One of the organizations benefiting from our pledge of support is The Salvation Army. In 2006, FedEx began an initiative with The Salvation Army in support of their network of Disaster Response Units. These DRUs are mobile canteen trucks that can each feed 2,500 people a day. In times of disaster, they are used to help feed people in shelters and in areas hit by fires, floods, winds and other natural disasters. The canteens also serve first responders, those brave individuals who devote their lives to helping others in the worst of circumstances.

When not responding to disasters, the canteens may be used year round in other kinds of feeding programs, serving the homeless and others in need.

To date, FedEx has donated 15 of these trucks, ten in the US and five outside the US. At a cost of about $100,000 each, this represents a $1.5 million donation. Three of the trucks – deployed in New York City, Boston and Washington, D.C. – are currently helping with Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. The photo associated with this post shows the truck donated to New York City.

Earlier this year, I joined The Salvation Army’s National Advisory Board. In that capacity, I have had the privilege of learning more about the inner workings of The Salvation Army. I am very proud to be associated with the organization. They strive for the highest standards in accountability and transparency and do a tremendous job serving the poor.

In addition to the wonderful work they do in the United States, The Salvation Army also serves the poor in more than 100 countries. They are known for their compassion, humility and selfless service.

When there was a train crash in Washington, D.C. in June 2009, the canteen we donated to the DC command was the first response vehicle on the scene, providing food, comfort and care to the injured and to first responders. The canteen we donated to the command in London, UK was used the evening after it was donated to respond to a large warehouse fire. Around the world, The Salvation Army has won the respect of local and national law enforcement and emergency response authorities for the excellent ways they serve.

As I write this post, FedEx-donated canteens are helping serve thousands of displaced and sheltered people throughout the northeastern United States. Our thoughts and prayers go out to our team members, customers, neighbors and other friends in that region.

In addition to helping local communities recover from disasters through our support of terrific relief organizations such as The Salvation Army, we are also doing our best to help get businesses back up and running. By providing the best transportation services in the business, we aim to provide access to the world’s marketplace, increasing the capacity of businesses, small and large, to reach customers around the corner, and around the world.